Although the state court system has no administrative control over local courts, state law requires the State Court Administrator to establish a registry of municipal and justice courts. Cities and counties must provide information about their courts to the State Court Administrator.

In 2007, the legislature required local courts that are now or will become "courts of record" to file a declaration with the Supreme Court. They must also file a declaration with the Supreme Court before ceasing to be a court of record. This affects where to file appeals from judgments of those courts. We have no set form for this declaration; see Senate Bill 267 for requirements. See Justice/Municipal Courts of Record for a list of courts that have filed declarations to operate as a court of record.